Collapsible hanging garment container



Patented Apr. 20, 1948 COLLAPSIBLE HANGING GARMENT CONTAINER Irma M. Cowan, Chicago, 111. Application August 2, 1945, Serial No. 608,503

invention has to do with improvements in garment containers, or thelike,

An object of my invention is to provide a neat, compact dust-proof clothing container which may be hung in a closet, or'the like.

Another object is to provide in a garment container one or more shelves which may be readily adjusted;

Another object is to provide a garment container which when in use may be supported in a closet or the like out of contact with the floor and when not in use may be collapsed and stored in a relatively small space.

Another object is to provide a garment con tainer having adjustable shelf structure and flexible frame and wall structures to minimize damage to the contents from bumping.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a. garment. container having shelves adjustably supported on flexible tapes and an outer dust-proof container, or bag, having an opening therein which provides ready access to the shelves and which may be closed by a slide fastener, or the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide a garment container having shelves adjustably motmted in a dust-proof bag with a slide fastening closure, or the like, adapted to be used for storing clothing such as womens hats, shoes and other apparel where they will be readily accessible.

Other Objects and advantages of my invention Will be apparent from the preferred form which is illustrated, by way of example, in the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the garment container with a portion of the front broken away to show the shelves;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig, 3 is a detail in perspective showing the clasp by which the shelves are adjustably attached to the supporting tapes.

In the preferred form of my invention as shown in Fig. 1 my container comprises a flexible dustproof bag 10 of cloth, leather, rubber or any similar flexible material; An opening the full length of the front of the bag is provided with a slide fastener H or similar closure fastener. At the top l3 of the bag hook-like members [2 are provided to support the container on the hanger bar in a closet or the like. As shown in Fig, 2

.the supporting members 12 extend through the top of the bag and are anchored in a relatively stifi reinforcing member l4 inside the bag. Tapes r straps l are attached to the reinforcing membar It at [6 and support one or more intermediate shelves l1 and a bottom shelf l8 The tapes l5 maybe of any flexible material such as cloth, leather, plastic or the like. They are arranged around the inside walls of the bag to provide sufficient points of support for the shelves, the number depending upon the shape of the container and the shelves. As illustrat d in the preferred form, the shelves are rectangular, conforming to the rectangular cross-sectional shape of the bag. Obviously, it is not necessary to make the container the particular shape shown. Other shapes may be adopted, The shelves I! are of relatively rigid material such as plywood, heavy cardboard or similar relatively stiff material.

As shown in Fig. 3, the tapes [5 support the shelves by means of small clasp members l9. Each clasp I9 comprises a portion 29, which is attached to the shelf i any desired manner, such as by a rivet 24, and a portion 2| having turned-back ends 22 forming a channel to receive the tape l5, Tangs 23 struck from the turned-back portions 22 provide gripping engagement with the tape. The clasp l9 may be made of a tough somewhat springy metal or the like. In order to adjust a shelf on the tape to a different position the turned-back ends 22 of each of the clasps which support the shelf are pulled away from the portion 2! of the respective clasp to free the tangs 23 from engagement with the tape. The shelf may then be moved to the desired position. When in the desired position the turned-back portions 22 of the clasp are then moved back sufficiently to engage the tangs 23 with the tape [5 and thus retain the shelf in the desired position. Any similar engaging means may be employed in cooperation with the turnedback portions 22 of the clasp to secure the clasp in position on the tape It,

The container bag is made of flexible material and may be collapsed. The shelves being supported by flexible tapes or straps may also be collapsed. Thus, in using the container, it may be suspended from a support by the hooks [2, or it may be collapsed and stored in a relatively small space, This collapsibiilty of the container permit-s the user to readily transport the container as desired. On a trip or the like the container may be collapsed and carried along in a small bag so that it may be used in a hotel or any other temporary residence.

My container is particularly desirable for use by women who have various articles of clothing which they desire to keep in a dust-proof place and yet have them readily accessible. The

shelves may be adjusted to adapt the container to receive almost any kind of apparel or the like.

While I have illustrated a particular embodiment of my device using specific details of construction and specific materials, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other details may be devised and other materials used within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a garment receptacle comprising a flexible bag, a shelf structure and flexible tapes secured to said bag adjacent the top thereof and supporting said shelf structure therein, clasp members for adjustably attaching the shelves to the supporting tapes, each of said clasp members comprising a portion attached to the shelf, a portion at an angle thereto having turned-back ends which form a channel slidably receiving the tapes and tangs extending into the channel from the turned-back ends which engage the tapes and retain the shelves in adjusted position.

2. A garment receptacle comprising a flexible bag, flexible supporting tapes secured to said bag adjacent the top thereof, one or more shelves Within said bag, means adjustably connecting the edges of the shelves with the tapes comprising clasp members, each of said clasp members having a portion connected to a shelf, a channel portion receiving a tape and tape engaging tangs in the channel portion and operable to secure the clasp to the respective tape.

3. A garment container comprising a flexible bag, means at the top thereof for suspending said bag from a support, a plurality of relatively rigid shelves adjustably supported in said bag, a plurality of flexible tapes having their upper ends secured to said bag. and metal clasp members secured to the edges of the shelves, said clasp members having channel-like portions for receiving the tapes, said channel-like portions being provided with projecting tang-like members adjustably engaging the tapes to support the shelves by the tapes in readily adjustable positions in the bag, said bag having an opening in a wall thereof to provide access to the shelves and a closure fastener for said opening.

IRMA M. COWAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 848,640 Dalton Apr. 2, 1907 878,695 Walter Feb. 11, 1908 1,121,211 Vaughan Dec. 15, 1914 1,225,607 Ford et a1 May 8,1917 1,370,045 Reinwald Mar. 1, 1921 1,678,415 Ahles July 24, 1928 1,832,715 London Nov. 17, 1931 1,847,066 Berg Mar. 1, 1932 2,206,753 Roth July 2, 1940 2,244,887 Manley June 10, 1941 2,305,279 Smith Dec. 15, 1942 

